SEPTA Cuts

Covering the SEPTA funding saga until morale improves.

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

@StephenJ_Caruso "I don't know."

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

We're good, for now. SEPTA crisis averted, for now.

[Stephen Caruso @StephenJ_Caruso]

News: Under an obscure provision of state law, SEPTA and PRT will ask PennDOT for permission to raid their capital funding for a year of operating dollars this year, according to a letter Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D., Allegheny) has sent to his caucus.

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

It’s Sept 5—do you know where SEPTA stands? Here’s the rundown:

• Judge orders ALL SEPTA service cuts reversed immediately (bus, rail, express, paratransit, stations) - no new cuts allowed.
• SEPTA will comply, but expects up to 10 days to restore service.
• Fare hike still in play, no timing set but expected.
• FanDuel funded $80K for Sports Express + free rides halftime.

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

"After the hearing, but before the judge issued her order, Bochetto said that there is no reason SEPTA couldn’t comply quickly with an injunction.

“It’s not that complicated,” Bochetto said. “You fill a bus up with a tank of gas and you put it out on the route.”"

🤡

[The Philadelphia Inquirer @PhillyInquirer]

#SEPTA must reverse all cuts to services immediately, a #Philadelphia judge ruled Thursday.

https://t.co/mxTqIFV3wV

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

It’s Sept. 4, do you know where your SEPTA stands? Here’s the breakdown:

-Judge granted a temporary injunction (Aug 29) halting further cuts, fare hikes, and Regional Rail reductions; Phase 1 cuts remain.

-City of Philadelphia tapped its transit subsidy to restore key student bus and trolley routes.

-FanDuel ponied up $80K to restore Sports Express trains for the Eagles opener, including free rides home starting at halftime.

-Moody’s downgraded SEPTA’s outlook to negative, warning of sustained operating stress amid stalled funding and legal constraints

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

@Devan_Kaney @FanDuel This is fantastic news, Go Birds. Just a reminder that Fan Duel can only do so much and to reach out to your local legislators to avoid major cuts!

Also, you're up @DKSportsbook

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

@PHLEaglesNation This is far worse than SEPTA cuts.

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

Not the way we wanted to see service cuts avoided, but enjoy the commute while you can and keep taking your case to legislators!

[ISEPTAPHILLY @SEPTAPHILLY]

SEPTA would like to update customers of changes to its plans for fare increases and Regional Rail service cuts that were scheduled to go into effect next week.

Per a ruling from Common Pleas Court on Friday #SEPTA was ordered to halt any further additional service cuts and fare increases that were not already in place as of Friday, August 29.

SEPTA will comply with the Court’s Order, which means that fares and service levels will stay as they were on Friday:

Fares: The 21.5% fare increase that was scheduled to begin on Monday, September 1 has been put on hold. All fares will remain at current prices until further notice.

Regional Rail: The 20% service cut scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 2, has been put on hold. Service on Tuesday will follow the same schedules that were in effect last week.

Bus & Metro: The 20% service cut that started on August 24 will remain in place.

SEPTA will begin supplementing bus service to schools under an agreement with the City of Philadelphia on Tuesday, September 2. SEPTA is currently facing a $213 million structural budget deficit. The future of a proposed state funding solution that would help close that deficit remains uncertain.

For more schedule information please visit https://t.co/XqEwBw1HSE or check the official SEPTA App. SEPTA will continue to provide updates with any new developments.

#ISEPTAPHILLY #HowWeRoll #FundSEPTA

[ISEPTAPHILLY @SEPTAPHILLY]

Beginning Tuesday, September 2 #SEPTA will begin to restore priority routes that were either eliminated or reduced to help students get to school on time and alleviate crowding for all riders. More info here: https://t.co/Cn6R5wwXr9. #ISEPTAPHILLY #HowWeRoll #FundSEPTA

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

Update from SEPTA

[ISEPTAPHILLY @SEPTAPHILLY]

SEPTA would like to update customers of changes to its plans for fare increases and Regional Rail service cuts that were scheduled to go into effect next week.

Per a ruling from Common Pleas Court on Friday #SEPTA was ordered to halt any further additional service cuts and fare increases that were not already in place as of Friday, August 29.

SEPTA will comply with the Court’s Order, which means that fares and service levels will stay as they were on Friday:

Fares: The 21.5% fare increase that was scheduled to begin on Monday, September 1 has been put on hold. All fares will remain at current prices until further notice.

Regional Rail: The 20% service cut scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 2, has been put on hold. Service on Tuesday will follow the same schedules that were in effect last week.

Bus & Metro: The 20% service cut that started on August 24 will remain in place.

SEPTA will begin supplementing bus service to schools under an agreement with the City of Philadelphia on Tuesday, September 2. SEPTA is currently facing a $213 million structural budget deficit. The future of a proposed state funding solution that would help close that deficit remains uncertain.

For more schedule information please visit https://t.co/XqEwBw1HSE or check the official SEPTA App. SEPTA will continue to provide updates with any new developments.

#ISEPTAPHILLY #HowWeRoll #FundSEPTA

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

@ZEROVISIONPHIlL @SaveSEPTA @SEPTAPHILLY @SEPTA Except the judge also barred SEPTA from doing layoffs or furloughs. Very much rock meets hard place.

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

@JawadPullin Was saying this at the time of filing. Very interesting. https://t.co/8CNQGpJfzs

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

This is an interesting disparate impact argument they seem to be making in this case. The basic argument is that minorities are disproportionately harmed by these cuts.

But after proving this (possible but not obvious at the moment) The plaintiffs would still have to prove that the only remedy is dipping into the service stabilization fund.

Entirely possible that the judge agrees that cuts represent a disparate impact, but propose la a different remedy, such as closing down more suburban service.

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

Major developments. All forthcoming transit cuts and fare increases have been blocked by a judge and 8 bus routes cut last week will be restored on Tuesday.

Short term great.

Long term, this wrests control of scheduling and cost management from SEPTA.

To editorialize a bit, SEPTA was taking steps today to create a schedule that (in the absence of additional needed funding) they could carry for decades. Now they are unable to plan beyond 2-3 years.

We are still, somehow, still waiting on a state budget from Pennsylvania. Now 60 days late.

[Save SEPTA! @SaveSEPTA]

UPDATE: FARE INCREASE IS ALSO ON HOLD

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

Politicians will do anything except actually ride transit.

[Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta @malcolmkenyatta]

Tomorrow I kick off a 105-mile Walk for Transit — for our working families and for a government that actually works for us.

@TheDemocrats and @PaHouseDems aren’t backing down!

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

For those at home - while using this money would absolutely fund SEPTA, it would only do so for a limited time, until the stabilization fund ran out of money itself!

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

"The lawsuit points to money that SEPTA has in a Service Stabilization Fund, claiming the mass transit provider could use $400 million that is allegedly in that fund instead of "holding its riders hostage"" https://t.co/fw4yCwUzpT

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

Great news!

[Action News on 6abc @6abc]

The City of Philadelphia is using $135 million to help SEPTA restore bus lines most used by school students. https://t.co/lvZDHS2Yy6

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

Full article:

[Gillian McGoldrick @gill_mcgoldrick]

new: it looks like there's the beginnings of a transit deal in Pennsylvania

(the rest of the budget is still getting worked out, and transit relief won't come until that's done)

https://t.co/lr3p7bcjIq

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

Big potential development for those looking to avoid further SEPTA cuts.

[Gillian McGoldrick @gill_mcgoldrick]

News: The Pennsylvania House Democratic leader is open to using a transit account to help fund SEPTA — with conditions

🧵

[SEPTA Cuts @septacuts]

"Penn Medicine has provided patients with SEPTA passes for getting home after an appointment. Now, the system may have to look for other options.

“We’re going to be watching what happens next week, because we anticipate that we...may see the impact of additional reductions”

[tomfitzgerald @tomfitzgerald]

How are SEPTA cuts impacting the Philly workforce? Here’s an early look. https://t.co/CGGsjeqCc9 via @phillyinquirer